"You don't have to go out of your way to protect me, Professor," Tristan said with a returned smirk. "I'm not a pupil here any more. I'm not your responsibility."
He stepped away from the archway that lead down to the courtyard, moving closer to Aurora. "Thank you for caring, though," he whispered as he passed her, leaning in to breath the words close to her ear despite no on else being around to hear.